Expansion-joint for pipe-lines.



E. F. OSBORNE.

EXPANSION JOINT FOR PIPE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26 1909.

Patented Dec.28,1909;.

UNITED STATES ATENT onnion.

EUGENE F. OSBORNE, ,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 OSBORNE STEAMENGINEER INGv COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

EXPANSION-JOINT FOR PIPE-LINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. Osnonnn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook'and State of Illinois,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Expansion-Joints forPipe-Lines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawin s, and to the numerals of reference marke thereon, which form apart of this specification. v

This invention relates to a provision of means for permitting endwisemovement of pipe lengths of a line of piping, relatively to joint andother fittings by which the pipe lengths are connected in the pipingline to accommodate longitudinal movement of said pipe lengths to suchfittings as required to compensate for the expansion and contrac-' tionof the piping under varying degrees of temperature.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken view, partially in elevation andpartially in section, of a line of piping and associated fittingsembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail,illustrating more fully the essential features of the invention. I

In the construction shown for eflecting the results described, the pipeis provided at its end with an exterior spiral groove and an interveningspiral abutment, in the nature of a screw-thread, and the joint memberthrough which the pipe end extends is provided with a 'complementalinterior spiral groove of the same pitch as, and arranged to receive theexterior spiral abutment of, the pipe. The pipe is inserted into thespirally grooved joint member by 1 fining it there,

into in a manner to interlo *the spiral abutments of the interfittingparts so as to prevent the pipe being withdrawn directly from the jointmember by a simple movement of the pipe in the direction of its axis.

. The said projections are made of a thickness, longitudinally-of thepipe less than the like dimensions of the grooves so as to permit slightlongitudinal movement of the pipe relatively to the joint members,wheres by each pipe length is p pmitted to shift. ,55-

lengthwise in the expansi 1,; and contraction Specification of LettersPatent. Application filed. July 26, 1909. Serial No. 509,542.

fluid tight joint is Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

thereof, due to variations of temperature, while preventing separationof the pipe from the joint members in a manner to open or otherwiseimpair the joints. A suitable formed between. each end of each pipelength and its joint member which is of a nature to permit the pipe toslip therein As herein shown the ends of the pipes are reduced beyondtheir spirally grooved,portions to fit closely in bores ofthe fittingsat the joints or in union rings embodied-in the joints and the packingrings which are embodied in the joints fit closely with a packing fitaround said reduced portions of the pipe.

Asshown in said drawings the pipe 101$ associated with a fitting 11,which, as shown,

is an elbow fitting, but may be a valve, a T- fitting or the like, andwith a union joint '12,

by which two lengths of, pipe'are connected together. At the pointbetween the pipe and fitting 11 a follower flange 14: fits over the endof and is interlocked withthe pipe by means of interfitting spiralgrooves and abutments 15,

lower flange, respectively, and said follower flange opposes andcooperates with a flangelT integral with the fitting 11-, The end of thepipe exterior to its spiral groove is reduccd to provide an extension 19which 35 enters and closely fits a bore 20 formed in the flanged end ofthe fitting. Said fitting is formed, exterior to said bore, with anannular recess 21, between the concave bottom of which and the innerconcave end of the follower portion 22 of the flange 14, which enterssaid recess, a packing ring 23 is compressed. The flanges 14; and 17 aredrawn together by means of bolts 25 which extend through registeringopenings in the .5

flanges. In the union fitting 12 a union ring 27 fits closely over theadjacent reduced end portions 19 of two pipe lengths and constitutespart of the piping conduitb Packing rings 28, 28 surrounding saidreduced pipe 100.

ends are compressed between the ends of sank union ring and opposingshoulders 29, 29 of 'ollower flanges 30,30 which. are inter-- lockedwith the pipe ends in the same manner as is the flange 14. The saidflanges are drawn together to compress the packing rings ,between thefollower flanges and the union ring by means of bolts 31, 31 whichextend through registeringopenings in said flanges.) As shown the endsof said union 16 on the pipe and'the fol- 8O '35 I interlockingconnection between the pipe and a or bars,

- toms of the grooves.

ring and the shoulders 29 of the flanges are concave and the ends of thepacking rings are correspondingly tapered or conical. The inner side ofthe flanges overlap the ends of the union ring so that the ackingpressure is brought to bear on al the exterior surfaces of the packingrings.

In both of the joints shown the spiral abutments 1 6 are made of lesswidth than that of the grooves, so that there is provided a freedom ofmovement of the pipe lengths relatively to the abutments in the flanges,whereby said pipe lengths are'free to move endwise relatively to thejoint members upon expansion and contraction of the pipes, andsuchmovement is permitted without, in any manner affecting the integrityof the joints, The spiral grooves are of general V- shape but arereferably flattened at their bottoms .32 and the spiral abutments arelikewise cut off or made blunt at their edges 33 and terminate short ofthe flattened bot- The-flattening of the bottoms of the grooves isespecially advantageous in the pipe as it results in a smaller extent ofweakenin the pipe wall than if the grooves be carried down to a sharp,V- point, andleaves a greater thickness in the reduced end portion ornipples 19 of the pipe.

. grooves and abutnients assume, the bases of the projections of theflanges will extend. radially .a distance beyond the peripheral surfaceof the pipe, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. The part cular spirallyarranged flanges shown facilitates the assembling of the parts toproducing a loose interfltting connection between the same, but suchloose j for the purpose stated.

interlocking connection may be otherwise obtained while preserving thefreedom of movement of the pipe relatively to the flanges The guidingengagement of the reduced or nipple ends 19 of the'pipe with the jointstructure maintains the pipe ends central in the flanges when the jointsare assembled so that the lateral expansion and contraction spacesbeone-half the depth of said groove so as to' tween the interlockingabutments are maintained, and also maintains the pipes in alinement.The. spiral abutment of one part should extend into the roove of theother part at least a distance ightly greater than prevent liability ofthe spiral abutment becoming crossed when the pipe is entered into theflan e and before the advance reduced end of t e pipe guidingly engagesthe bore in the fitting or in the union ring.

The spiral abutments of the pipe are shown as made in straight orcylindrical portions of the pipe instead of being tapered toward theouter ends thereof. This is a preferable arrangement, inasmuch as theinterlocking grooves and abutments of the Whatever shape theinterlocking parts may be more readily made than if formed in taperedparts of the pipe and flanges. The reduced end portions or nipples ofthe pipe are also cylindrical so as to permit movement of said'nipplesin 'the packing rings without impairing the joints between the packingrings and pipe.

In forming the nipples or reduced ends on a length or section of thepipe, the spiral groove and abutment are first out in the pipe and thena part of the spiral abutment is cut away to give the plain cylindricform to said nipples.

The spiral grooves and abutments at the .two ends of a pipe length maybe formed one with a right hand and the other with 'a left hand pitch sothat after the joints at the opposite ends thereof have been adjusted,the interfitting abutments atthe opposite ends of the pipe may be easedoff from each other, if necessary, by rotation of the length in theproper direction. course be understood that provision will be made forestablishing and maintaining the proper relation of the abutments of thepipes and their associated flanges at the time of It will ofinstallation to correspond with temperature conditions, suitable gagingoperatio It will be understood that the invention and this may beeifected by a.

is capable of adaptation in a variety of places where compensation forcontraction and expansion of thepiplng is required, and

the invention is not limited to the structural details shown, except assaid details are hereinafter made the subject .of specific claims. I

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a pipe, of a follower flange through w'hich theend of the pipe extends and which is: adapted to cooperate with theflange of an adjacent end- ;to end pipe or fitting to compress a packingabout the'pipe, the pipe and its flange being provided with interfittingspiral grooves and abutments, and the abutments of one part being spacedfrom the abutments of the other part to permit en'dwise movement of thepipe relatively toits follower flange.

2. The combination with a pipe, of a follower flange through which theend of the .pipe extends, means cooperating with the produce a fluidtight joint pipe, thepipe having sliding follower flange to around saidmovement in said joint, and interfitting s ira] abntments on the i e andfollower fl zinge arranged-to afford imited endwise movement of the piperelatively to said flange.

' 3. The combination with a pipe provided at its end with an exteriorspiral groove and an intervening spiral abutment, and beyond said groovewith areduoed smooth end ortion, and a follower flange through w ich theend of the pipe extends, of a fitting into pipe, the a pipe end andinterposed between said fitting .and flan e, and means for compressingsaid V packing etween said flange fitting, the

mit endwise movement of the pipe relapacking surroundin flange being.provided with an interior "of the pipe.

which said reduced end portion extends, a 1

tion and interposed between said fitting and flange, and means forcompressing said packing between said flange and fitting, the flangebein provided with an interior spiral groove an abutment arranged tointerfit with the s airal groove and abutment of the utments being ofless Width than said grooves.

4. The combination with a pipe provided at its end with an exteriorspiral groove and an intervening spiral abutment, and a follower flan ethrough which the pipe end extends, o a fitting into which said pipe endextends, a packing surrounding said flange being provided with aninterior spiral groove and abutment arranged to .interflt with thespiral groove and abutment of the pipe, the abutments being of lesswidth than said grooves, and the abutn'lents of the pipeextending intothe groove of the flange a distance at least one=half the depth of saidgroove.

The combination with a pipe provided at its end with an exterior spiralgroove and an intervening spiral abutment, and a follower flange throughwhich the pipe end extends, of, a fitting into which the pipe endextends, a packing surround-bu said pipe end and interposed between saidfitting and flange, and means for compressing said packing between saidflange and fitting, the

spiral groove and abutment arranged to interfit with the groove andabutment of the pipe, the abutments of the flange and pipe,einglaterally separated by spaces to 'per tively to said flange, andthe base of the spiral abutment of the flange being arranged radiallyoutside of the circumferential lme 6. The combination With a pipe, ofiiifolsaid reduced end porlower flange through whic :h".the endi-ijfithepi extends, means cooperating with the to ower flange to produce a fluidtight joint near its end with an external spiral groove and anintervening spiral. abutment formed in the straight or cylindric portionof the pipe, and the flange being provided with an nternal spiral grooveand abutment interfitting with those of the pipe, said abutmcnts beingof less width than the grooves.

7. The combination with a pipe, of a follower fiange through which theend of the pipe extends, means cooperating with the follower flange toproduce a fluid tight joint around the pipe, said pipe being providednear its end with an external spiral groove 1 and an intervening spiralabutment formed in the straight or cyllndric portlon of the pipe, andbeyond said groove with a reduced cylindrical nipple around which saidjoint is formed and adapted to enter the bore of a fitting connected tothe pipe, and the flange being provided with an internal spiral grooveand abutment interfitting with those of the pipe, said abutments beingof less width than the grooves.

8. The combination with a pipe provided at its ends with external spiralgrooves and abutments, the grooves and abutments at one end of the pipebeing arranged at a reverse angle to those at the other end of the pipe,follower flanges surrounding said pipe and provided with internal spiralgrooves and abut-merits which interfit with the grooves and abutments ofthe pipe ends and arranged to permit limited endwise movement of thepipe relatively to said flanges and means cooperating with said flangesto provide fluid tight oints about the ends of said pipe.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix mysignature in'the presence of two witnesses, this .Witnesses: W. L. HALL,W. Gonnn'saonn.

EUGENE F. osnonxrpfl around the pipe, said pipe being provided

